Kung magpopokus sa tatlong punto: ang paulit-ulit na paksa atema, ang pagsasalarawan ng mga lalaking bayani, at ang mga pangunahing babaeng karakter sa istorya; ating makikita kung paano naipakikita ng
epiko ang kultura ng isang pangkat ng tao.

Ang Paulit-ulit na Paksa o Tema
• katapangan at pakikipagsapalaran ng bayani
• mga supernatural na gawa ng bayani
• pag-ibig at romansa
• panliligaw – pag-aasawa – pagbubuntis – mga yugto ng buhay
• kamatayan at pagkabuhay
• pakikipaglaban at kagitingan ng bayani
• kayamanan, kaharian at iba’t ibang mga kasiyahan o piging
• mga ritwal at kaugalian
• ugnayan ng magkakapamilya

Ang Lalaking Bayani
Sa pagbabasa ng mga epiko, agad na makikita ang katangian ng isang bayani. Karamihan sa kaniyang mga katangian ay mauuri sa alinman sa sumusunod: pisikal, sosyal, at supernatural. Maaari ding isama ang kaniyang intelektwal at moral na katangian

Ang Pangunahing Babaeng Karakter
Ang pangunahing babaeng karakter ay kadalasang ang babaeng iniibig ng bayani o maaari rin namang tinutukoy rito ang kanyang ina.

Ilang Epiko sa Pilipinas
Biag ni Lam-ang- Ilokos
Maragtas- Bisaya
Bantugan- Mindanao
Hudhud – Ifugao
Darangan – Muslim

Sa isang nayon sa Baguio na kung tawagin ay Suyuk, naninirahan ang mga Igorot na pinamumunuan ni Kunto. Si Kunto ay bata pa ngunit siya ang pinakama-lakas at pinakamatapang sa kanilang nayon kaya siya ang ginawang puno ng matatandang pantas.
Ang mga naninirahan sa nayong ito ay namumuhay nang tahimik . Maibigin sila sa kapwa at may takot sila sa kanilang bathala. Taun-taon ay nagdaraos sila ng caᾗao bilang parangal sa kanilang mga anito. Noong panahong iyon, ang mga Igorot ay naniniwala sa iba’t ibang anito.
Kung nagdaraos sila ng caᾗao ay lingguhan ang kanilang handa. Nagpapatay sila ng baboy na iniaalay sa kanilang bathala. Nagsasayawan at nagkakantahan sila.
Isang araw ay nagtungo si Kunto sa gubat upang mamana. Hindi pa siya lubhang nakalalayo nang nakakita siya ng isang uwak. Nakatayo ito sa isang landas na kanyang tinutunton. Karaniwang ang mga ibon sa gubat ay maiilap ngunit ang ibong ito ay kaiba.
Lumakad si Kunto palapit sa ibon ngunit hindi ito tuminag sa pagkakatayo sa gitna ng landas. Nang may iisang dipa na lamang siya mula sa ibon, bigla siyang napatigil.
Tinitigan siyang mainam ng ibon at saka tumango nang tatlong ulit bago lumipad. Matagal na natigilan si Kunto . Bagamat siya’y malakas at matapang, sinagilahan siya ng takot. Hindi niya mawari kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang nakita.
Hindi na niya ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang pamamana. Siya’y bumalik sa nayon at nakipagkita sa matatandang pantas. Anang isang matanda, “ Marahil ang ibong iyon ay ang sugo ng ating bathala. Ipinaaalaala sa atin na dapat tayong magdaos ng caᾗao.”
Kung gayon, ngayon din ay magdaraos tayo ng caᾗao,” ang pasiya ni Kunto.
Ipinagbigay-alam sa lahat ang caᾗao na gagawin. Lahat ng mamamayan ay kumilos upang ipagdiwang ito sa isang altar sa isang bundok-bundukan. Ang mga babae naman ay naghanda ng masasarap na pagkain.
Nang ang lahat ay nakahanda na, ang mga lalaki ay humuli ng isang baboy. Ang baboy na ito ay siyang iaalay sa kanilang bathala upang mapawi ang galit, kung ito man ay nagagalit sa kanila.
Inilagay ang baboy sa altar na ginawa nila sa itaas ng bundok-bundukan. Anong laking himala ang nangyari! Nakita nilang ang baboy ay napalitan ng isang pagkatanda-tandang lalaki! Ang mukha ay kulay- lupa na sa katandaan at halos hindi na siya makaupo sa kahinaan.Ang mga tao ay natigilan. Nanlaki ang mga mata sa kanilang nakita. Sila’y natakot.
Maya-maya’y nagsalita ang matanda at nagwika nang ganito: “Mga anak magsilapit kayo. Huwag kayong matakot. Dahil sa kayo’y mabuti at may loob sa inyong bathala, gagantimpalaan ko ang inyong kabutihan. Lamang ay sundin ninyo ang lahat ng aking ipagbilin.
“Kumuha kayo ng isang tasang kanin at ilagay ninyo rito sa aking tabi. Pagkatapos sukluban ninyo ako ng isang malaking palayok. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong caᾗao. Pagkalipas ng tatlong araw, bumalik kayo rito sa pook na ito.
Makikita niyo ang isang punungkahoy, na kahit minsan sa buhay ninyo ay hindi pa ninyo nakikita o makikita magpakailanman. Ang bunga,dahon, at sanga ay maaari ninyong kunin ngunit ang katawan ay huwag ninyong gagalawin. Huwag na huwag ninyong tatagain ang katawan nito.”
Tinupad naman ng mga tao ang ipinagbilin ng matanda.Ipinagpatuloy nila ang kanilang pista. Pagkaraan ng tatlong araw, bumalik sila sa pook na pinag-iwanan sa matanda. Itinaas nila ang palayok at gaya ng sinabi ng matanda, nakita nila ang isang punungkahoy na maliit. Kumikislap ito sa liwanag ng araw-lantay na ginto mula sa ugat hanggang sa kaliit-liitang dahon.
Nagsigawan ang mga tao sa laki ng galak. Si Kunto ang kauna-unahang lumapit sa punungkahoy at pumitas ng isang dahon. Pagkapitas sa dahon ay nagkaroon kaagad ng kapalit ito kayat nag-ibayo ang tuwa sa mga tao. Bawat isa ay pumitas ng dahon.
Sa loob ng maikling panahon, yumaman ang mga taga-Suyuk.Ang dati nilang matahimik na pamumuhay ay napalitan ng pag-iimbutan at inggitan. Ang punungkahoy naman ay patuloy sa pagtaas hanggang sa ang mga dulo nito’y hindi na maabot ng tingin ng mga tao.
Isang araw, anang isang mamamayan, “kay taas-taas na at hindi na natin maabot ang bunga o dahon ng punong-ginto. Mabuti pa ay pagputul-putulin na natin ang mga sanga at dahon nito. Ang puno ay paghahati-hatian natin.”
Kinuha ng mga lalaki ang kanilang mga itak at palakol. Ang iba ay kumuha ng mga sibat. Tinaga nila nang tinaga ang puno at binungkal ang lupa upang lumuwag ang mga ugat.Nang malapit nang mabuwal ang punungkahoy ay kumidlat nang ubod-talim. Kumulog nang ubos-lakas at parang pinagsaklob ang lupa at langit.
Ang punungkahoy ay nabuwal. Nayanig ang lupa at bumuka sa lugar na kinabagsakan ng puno. Isang tinig ang narinig ng mga tao. “ Kayo ay binigyan ng gantimpala sa inyong kabutihan. Ang punong-ginto upang maging mariwasa ang inyong pamumuhay. Sa halip na kayo’y higit na mag-ibigan , kasakiman ang naghari sa inyong mga puso. Hindi ninyo sinunod ang aking ipinagbilin na huwag ninyong sasaktan ang puno. Sa tuwi-tuwina ay inyong nanaisin ang gintong iyan.”
At pagkasabi ng mga katagang ito, sa harap ng mga tao sa Suyuk, ang puno ay nilulon na ng lupang kinabuwalan. Mula nga noon, nagkaroon na ng minang ginto sa Baguio at nakukuha lamang ito sa pamamagitan ng paghukay sa lupa.

One day the Squirrel said to his mother, “O mother! I want you to go to the house of the Datu who is called ‘sultan,’ and take these nine kamagi and these nine finger-rings to pay for the sultan’s daughter, because I want to marry her.”

Then the mother went to the sultan’s house and remained there an hour. The sultan said, “What do you want?”

The woman answered, “Nothing. I came for betel-nuts.” Then the woman went back home.

The Squirrel met her, and said, “Where are my nine necklaces?”

“Here they are,” said the woman.

But the Squirrel was angry at his mother, and bit her with his little teeth.

Again he said to his mother, “You go there and take the nine necklaces.”

So the woman started off again. When she reached the sultan’s house, she said to him, “I have come with these nine necklaces and these nine finger-rings that my son sends to you.”

“Yes,” said the sultan; “but I want my house to become gold, and I want all my plants to become gold, and everything I have to turn into gold.”

But the woman left the presents to pay for the sultan’s daughter. The sultan told her that he wanted his house to be turned into gold that very night. Then the woman went back and told all this to her son. The Squirrel said, “That is good, my mother.”

Now, when night came, the Squirrel went to the sultan’s house, and stood in the middle of the path, and called to his brother, the Mouse, “My brother, come out! I want to see you.”

Then the great Mouse came out. All the hairs of his coat were of gold, and his eyes were of glass.
The Mouse said, “What do you want of me, my brother Squirrel?”

“I called you,” answered the Squirrel, “for your gold coat. I want some of that to turn the sultan’s house into gold.”

Then the Squirrel bit the skin of the Mouse, and took off some of the gold, and left him. Then he began to turn the sultan’s things into gold. First of all, he rubbed the gold on the betel-nut trees of the sultan; next, he rubbed all the other trees and all the plants; third, he rubbed the house and all the things in it. Then the sultan’s town you could see as in a bright day. You would think there was no night there—always day.

All this time, the sultan was asleep. When he woke up, he was so frightened to see all his things, and his house, of gold, that he died in about two hours.

Then the Squirrel and the daughter of the sultan were married. The Squirrel staid in her father’s home for one month, and then they went to live in the house of the Squirrel’s mother. And they took from the sultan’s place, a deer, a fish, and all kinds of food. After the sultan’s daughter had lived with the Squirrel for one year, he took off his coat and became a Malaki T’oluk Waig.

The crow never makes its nest in low-growing trees, but only in tall, big trees. Far from here, the old men say, in the land where the sun rises, there are no more living trees; for the scorching heat of the sun has killed them.all, and dried up the leaves. There they stand, with naked branches, all bare of leaves.

Only two trees there have not died from the heat. The trunks of these trees are of gold, and all their leaves of silver. But if any bird lights on one of these trees, it falls down dead. The ground under the two trees is covered with the bones of little birds and big birds that have died from perching on the trees with the golden trunks and the silver leaves. These two trees are full of a resin that makes all the birds die. Only the crow can sit on the branches, and not die. Hence the crow alone, of all the birds, remains alive in the land of the sunrise.

No man can get the resin from these trees. But very long ago, in the days of the Mona, there came a Malaki T’oluk Waig to the trees. He had a war-shield that shone brightly, for it had a flame of fire always burning in it. And this Malaki came to the golden trees and took the precious resin from their trunks.

One pleasant afternoon Jackyo started off to visit his farm. It was late when he reached it, and after he had finished inspecting his crops, he turned back homewards. But the bright day had gone and the sun had set. Night came on quickly, and the way was dark and lonely.

At last he could no longer see the road. Not a star was to be seen, and the only sounds he heard were the sad twitterings of the birds and soft rustling of the leaves as they were moved by the wind.

At last he entered a thick forest where the trees were very big. “What if I should meet some wild beast,” thought Jackyo; but he added half aloud, “I must learn to be brave and face every danger.”

It was not long before he was very sure that he could hear a deep roar. His heart beat fast, but he walked steadily forward, and soon the roar was repeated, this time nearer and more distinctly, and he saw in the dim light a great wild ox coming towards him.

He found a large hole in the trunk of a huge tree. “I will pass the night here in this tree,” he said to himself.

In a little while an old man appeared. His body was covered with coarse hair and he was very ugly. He looked fiercely at Jackyo from head to foot and said: “What are you thinking of to come in here? Do you not know that this is the royal castle of the king of evil spirits?”

Jackyo became more frightened than before and for a long time he could not speak, but at last he stammered: “Excuse me, sir, but I cannot go home on account of the dark night. I pray you to let me rest here for a short time.”

“I cannot let you stay here, because our king is not willing to help any one who does not belong to his kingdom. If he did so, his kingdom would be lost. But what is your name? Do you know how to sing?” said the old man.

“My name is Jackyo, and I know a little bit about singing,” replied
Jackyo.

“Well,” said the old man, “if you know any song, sing for me.” Now Jackyo knew but one song, and that was about the names of the days of the week except Sunday. He did not like to sing it, but the old man urged him, saying: “If you do not sing, I will cut your head off.” So Jackyo began to sing.

It happened that the king [5] of the evil spirits, whose name was Mensaya, heard Jackyo’s song and was very much interested in it. He called a servant, named Macquil, and said: “Macquil, go downstairs and see who is singing down there, and when you find him, bring him to me.”

Jackyo went before the king, bowed to the floor, touching the carpet with his forehead, and stood humbly before the king.

“Let me hear your song,” said the king. So Jackyo, with great respect, sang the only song he knew. Here it is:

Mon-day, Tues-day, Wednesday, Thurs-day, Fri-day, Sat-ur-day.

While he was singing, all the evil spirits in the cave gathered around him to hear his song, and Mensaya asked him to sing it over and over again. They were all so pleased with it that Mensaya ordered Macquil to give Jackyo a large quantity of gold and silver as a reward for his beautiful song.

When the morning came Jackyo returned home, full of joy, and became known as the richest man in the village.

from Philippine Folk-Tales by Clara Kern Bayliss, Berton L. Maxfield, W. H. Millington,
Fletcher Gardner, Laura Watson Benedict

The tales here presented were collected during the spring of 1904, in the island of Panay, belonging to the Visayan group of the Philippine Islands, and were obtained in our own class rooms, from native teachers and pupils. Mr. Maxfield was stationed at Iloilo, and Mr. Millington at Mandurriao, places five miles apart. We daily came in contact with about one thousand pupils. The tales were gathered in both places, and were found to be substantially alike, the differences being only in petty details. After collecting one version, we endeavored to ascertain whether the same narrative was current among natives in other localities of the island. We were surprised to discover that they seemed to be known wherever we became acquainted with the people and had obtained their confidence sufficiently to induce them to talk freely. There were often variations, but the framework was always the same. If any stories were obtained from native teachers who knew Spanish, we have always verified them by getting children or natives from other places, who knew no Spanish, to relate them, in order to assure ourselves that the narrative could not be a mere translation of a Spanish tale.

Now the sea on which the ball was floating was called Baharun Nur [Bahar, great waters, mighty
rivers; Nur, light], meaning, this was the ancestor of all which floated on it.
Symbolically, the part which was lifted up was the father, and the grandfather
was the sea on which it floated. Now at the same time of the splitting of the
ball, and as God willed it, all men and all the creatures on earth have already
been believed as being in it.

From the time of our ancestors up to the present, the original content of that thing is what we
have been looking for.

And Nur Muhammad [technical term for the pre-existence of the soul of the Prophet] was then
already risen. When Allah the Most High was already in the highest heaven, he willed and his radiance
scattered and became a man—Nur Muhammad. Now, when the latter became aware of himself, he
asserted that he was God. Looking left and right, he saw that he was alone. So he said to himself,
―There is nobody but me, so I must be God.‖ He then went around, and after walking some distance he said, ―Arastum Murabbikum,‖ meaning, ―I am God.‖ Then all of a sudden, a voice answered, ―Kahal
Bala,” and Nur disintegrated.

When Nur disintegrated, all the elements contained in the earth and the heavens were drawn out
of him. All creatures then appeared. From the single light [Nur] was taken the elements that became
the moon, the sun, the stars, the trees, and all living things. They were all there. And this was begun
on a Sunday and was completed on a Friday.

After all things had been drawn out of Nur Muhammad, he was made man once again, and God
said to him, ―Don‘t assert that you are God. It is I. But if you don‘t believe, let us play hide and seek.
You hide and I will look for you. Then I will hide and you will look for me. If I can find you and you
cannot find me, then surely I am God.‖ And so they commenced the trial. No matter how hard Nur
Muhammad hid, God always pinpointed him. Then God said, ―Now I will hide.‖ And Nur Muhammad
could not find him. [This is said to be the reason why we cannot see God.

God then summoned the angel, Jibra‘il [Gabriel]. God then said to him, ―Go on to earth and get a
handful of soil.‖ When Jibra‘il descended and tried to pick up some earth. The earth cursed and
refused to be taken, Jibra‘il returned empty-handed, and God said to another angel, Mika‘il, ―You go.‖
When Mikail reached the earth, the same refusal met him. Then the angel, Israfil, took his turn, but the
earth likewise refused. Then the fourth angel, Idjara‘il [Izra‘il or Azra‘el], immediately went down and
forthwith grabbed the earth. One of his fingers was on the west, another on the east, a third one on the
south, and a fourth one on the earth. And he scooped a handful.
7 Then God said to Jibra‘il, ―Make it into a man.‖ When it had assumed the form of a man, Jibra‘il
said, ―My Lord, the man is here, but it cannot speak, and his joints are no t connected.‖Then God said, ―Get a ganta of rice and grind it into
powder and apply it to him.‖ Then the joints were connected and the man
became whole, but he still could not speak. Then God commanded Nur
Muhammad, ―Go inside Adam‖ (for that was the name of the man). But Nur Muhammad said, ―I refuse. You created Adam from the four elements (fire, water, wind, and earth), whereas I came from Your light.‖ Then God
said to Nur Muhammad, ―Be willing, for you and I are one, and you can
meet me five times a day during prayer.‖ So Nur Muhammad went inside
Adam through his forehead and Adam became a living man.

And God made Adam into a Caliph and commanded all creatures including angels to pay
homage to him. And every creature did, except Iblis (the Evil One) who said to God, ―How can I
worship Adam seeing he was created of four elements whereas I have served you for hundreds of
years.‖ In spite of God‘s entreaty, Iblis continued to refuse. Then, Iblis asked God to grant him four
wishes. First, that he would be the richest of all; second, that he would be the most exalted of all; third,
that he can steal the riches of those who have; and fourth, that those riches he cannot steal, he kills.
And this is the origin of the evil desire for material goods and for worldly fame which leads to envy and
killing. Those whom Iblis enters are led to evil. For he had an agreement with God that those he can mislead are his and those he cannot are God‘s.

3
Tungkung Langit was an industrious, loving, and kind
god whose chief concern was how to impose order over the
whole confused set-up of things. He assumed responsibility for the regular cosmic
movement. On the other hand, Alunsina was a lazy, jealous, and selfish goddess whose
only work was to sit by the window of their heavenly home, and amuse herself with her
pointless thoughts. Sometimes, she would go down from the house, sit down by a pool
near their doorstep and comb her long, jet-black hair all day long.

4
One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away from home for
sometime to put an end to the chaotic disturbances in the flow of time and in the
position of things. The jealous Alunsina, however, sent the sea breeze to spy on
Tungkung Langit. This made the latter very angry upon knowing about it.

5
Immediately after his return from the trip, he called this act to her attention
saying that it was ungodly of her to be jealous, there being no other creature living in the
world except the two of them. This reproach was resented by Alunsina, and a quarrel
between them followed.
6
Tungkung Langit lost his temper. In this rage, he divested his wife of powers and
drove her away. No one knew where Alunsina went; she merely disappeared.
7
Several days after Alunsina left, however, Tungkung Langit felt very lonely. He
realized what he had done. Somehow, it was too late even to be sorry about the whole
matter. The whole place once vibrant with Alunsina‘s sweet voice, suddenly became
cold and desolate. In the morning, when he woke up he would find himself alone and in
the afternoon when he came home, he would feel the same loneliness creeping deep in
his heart because there was no one to meet him at the doorstep or soothe the aching
muscles of his arms.

8
For months, Tungkung Langit lived in utter desolation. He could not find
Alunsina, try hard as he would. And so, in his desperation, he decided to do something
in order to forget his sorrows. For months and months he thought. His mind seemed
pointless, his heart, weary, and sick. But he must have to do something about his
loneliness.
9
One day, while he was sailing across the regions of the clouds, a thought came
to him. He would make a big basin of water below the sky so that he can see the image
of his wife, if she were just somewhere in the regions above. And lo! The sea appeared.
However, Alunsina was never seen.
10
After a long time, the somber sight of the lonely sea irritated Tungkung Langit.
So he came down to the Middleworld and created the land; then he planted this with
grasses, trees, and flowers. He took his wife‘s treasured jewels and scattered them in
the sky, hoping that when Alunsina would see them she might be induced to return
home. The goddess‘ necklace became the stars, her comb the moon, and her crown the
sun. However, despite all these Alunsina did not come back.
11
And up to this time, the folks in Panay say that Tungkung Langit is alone in his
palace in the skies. Sometimes, he would cry out of his pent-up emotions and his tears
would fall down upon the earth. The people say that rain is Tungkung Langit‘s tears and
that is why in some localities in the island of Panay, the first rain in May is received with
much rejoicing and sacrifice. Incidentally, when it thunders hard, the old folks also say
that it is Tungkung Langit sobbing, calling for his beloved Alunsina to come back –
entreating her so hard that his voice thunders across the fields and countryside.

Barom-Mai asked his advisers to help him win his bride’s love, and Matigam (the wisest of advisers) told him about Impit Purok, a hermit who lived in a cave in Mt. Apo.

They went to the hermit and he asked for three things: the egg of the black tabon bird, twelve ladles of fresh milk from a white carabao without blemish, and the nectar from the flower of the tree-of-make-believe.
The egg will be used to soften the bride’s heart; the milk, to make her kind; and, the nectar, to make her see Barom-Mai as a young and handsome king.

The king finds the egg through the help of Pawikan, the king of the sea turtles. He luckily gets milk from a white carabao the following breakfast, thanks to his cook. Hangin-Bai, the nymph of the air, leads him to her sister, the wood nymph who had the magic flower in her hair.
Barom-Mai gives the three things to Impit Purok, who asked him to prepare a big feast after Barom-Mai wins his queen back, and to invite Impit Purok as the king’s guest of honor.

Impit Purok mixes the three ingredients and instructs Barom-Mai to plant the mixture in the royal garden. The morning after it was planted, a tree grew. It had a sweet smell and tasted good. When Madayaw-Bayho was given the fruit, she fell in love with Barom-Mai.

The king throws a big feast but forgets to invite Impit Purok. In retaliation, Impit casts a curse upon the fruit: The sweet smell was replaced with a foul odor while the smooth skin of the fruit was covered with thorns, which is how the durian smells and looks today.

photo from geoclass.info

Masagana ang Kahariang Masinlok. Magandang maganda noon ang umaga. Maningning ang sikat ng araw. Sariwa ang hanging amihan. Lunti ang mga halaman sa paligid. Masigla ang awit ng mga ibon. Bughaw ang kabundukan. Subalit ang kagandahan ng umaga ay hindi nakasiya sa Datu. Wala siyang madamang kaligayahan sa lahat ng namamalas.

Malungkot na nakapanungaw ang Datu. Nakatuon ang ma paningin sa bughaw na kabundukan. Nakakunot ang noo at tikom ang mga labi. Nagbuntong-hininga siya ng malalim.

“Malungkot na naman kayo, mahal na Datu,” narinig niya sa may likuran. Bumaling ang Datu. Nagtanong ang mga mata ni Tandang Limay. Isa ito sa bumubuo sa “Konseho ng Matanda.”

“Ikaw pala. Nalulungkot nga ako, Tandang Limay. Naalaala ko ang aking kabataan,” at nagbuntung-hininga muli. Humawak siya sa palababahan ng bintana.

“Nakita mo ba ang bundok na iyon?” nagtaas ng paningin ang Datu.

“Oo, aking Datu, ngunit ano ang kinalaman niyon sa inyong kalungkutan?” tanong ni Tandang Limay. Napag-usapan na ng “Matatanda” ang napapansin nilang pagkamalungkutin ng Datu. Siya nga ang naatasang magsiyasat tungkol dito.

Doon ako sa mga bundok na iyon laging nangangaso. Natatandaan mo marahil na malimit akong mag-uwi ng baboy-ramo at usa sa aking ama at mahal ko sa buhay.

“Opo. Kayo, mahal na Datu, ang kinikilalang pinakamagaling sa pana noon. Napabantog sa ibang kaharian ang inyong katangian sa pangangaso,” sang-ayon ni Tandang Limay.

“Iyan ang suliranin ko ngayon. Para bang gustong-gusto kong magawa uli ang mga bagay na iyon, ngunit napakatanda ko na upang pagbalikan ang kabundukang iyon. Napakalayo na ang mga pook na iyon para sa mahina kong katawan,” at muling nagbuntung-hininga ang Datu.

“Hindi na nga ninyo makakayanan ang maglakbay nang malayo. Ngunit maaari naman kayong magkaroon ng ibang libangan,” pasimula ni Tandang Limay.

“Bahagi na ng aking buhay ang pangangaso. Hindi na rin ako makadarama ng kasiyahan kung iba ang aking magiging aliwan,” malungkot na umiling ang Datu.

Naging usap-usapan sa buong kaharian ang suliranin ng Datu. Nabalita rin sa ilang bayan ang pagkamalungkutin ng pinuno ng Masinlok.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, dumating sa palasyo ang isang salamangkero. Matanda na siya at mabalasik ang mukha. Malaki ang paghahangad niya sa kamay ni Prinsesa Alindaya, prinsesa ng Masinlok ngunit malaki rin ang pag-ayaw nito sa kanya.

Nagbigay ng kaukulang paggalang ang panauhin.

“May magandang panukala ako tungkol sa inyong suliranin kung inyong mamarapatin, mahal na Datu”, saad ng salamangkero.
“Sabihin mo at handa akong magbayad sa inyong kapaguran,” turing ng Datu.

“Magpapatubo ako ng isang bundok sa kapatagan ng Masinlok na malapit sa inyong palasyo para sa inyong pangangaso ipakasal lamang ninyo sa akin si Prinsesa Alindaya,” pahayag ng panauhin.

“Kung matutupad mo ang iyong sinabi ay ibibigay ko sa iyo ang kamay ng aking anak,” mabilis na pasiya ng Datu.

Madaling kumuha ng isang maliit na batumbuhay ang salamangkero. Ito’y parang isang batong mutya.

Itinanim niya itong tila isang binhin ng halaman. Biglang-biglang sumipot sa pinagtamnan ang isang maliit na puno. Tumaas nang tumaas iyon. Lumaki nang lumaki hanggang sa maging isang bundok.

“Aba, anong laking bundok! Di ba iyan tumubo sa itinanim na batong mutya ng salamangkero?” paksa ng usapan ng mga tao.

Samantala sa palasyo, iniluhang gayon na lamang ni Prinsesa Alindaya ang naging pasiya ng ama. Ipinagdamdam niya nang labis na tila siya ay kalakal na ipinagpalit lamang sa isang bundok. At sa lalaki pa namang kanyang kinamumuhian. Laging lumuluha ang magandang prinsesa. Nagkaroon siya ng karamdaman. Naging malubha ang kanyang sakit. Dumating ang araw na itinakda ng Datu sa pagkuha sa kanya ng salamangkero.

“Ikinalulungkot ko na hindi ko mapasasama sa iyo ang aking anak. May sakit ang mahal na prinsesa. Magbalik ka sa ibang araw,” saad ng Datu sa salamangkero.

Umuwing masamang-masama ang loob ng matanda. Galit na galit siya sa Datu. Sinapantaha niyang gusto na nitong sumira sa usapan. Nagulong gayon na lamang ang kanyang loob. Lagi niyang naiisip si Prinsesa Alindaya at ang kanyang kabiguan. Hindi niya napansing palaki nang palaki ang bundok. Ito’y kanyang nakaligtaan.

“Mahal na Datu, halos natatakpan na po ng bundok ang buong kapatagan. Malapit na pong humangga ang bundok sa tabing-dagat. Wala na pong matitirhan ang mga tao,” sumbong ng matatanda sa Datu.

“Hulihin ngayon din ang salamangkero. Putulan siya ng ulo. Lubhang nakapipinsala sa kaharian ang bundok na pinatubo niya,” mabalasik na utos ng hari. Natakot siya sa maaring mangyari sa kaharian.

Namatay ang salamangkero ngunit patuloy pa rin sa paglaki ang bundok. Araw-araw ay pataas ito nang pataas na lalong ikinabahala ng mga tao. Walang maisipang gawin ang Datu. Palubha nang palubha ang suliranin.
Nakaabot ang balita hanggang sa malalayong kaharian. Nakarating iyon sa pandinig ni Prinsipe Malakas ng Pangasinan. Balita siya sa taglay na lakas at kabutihang loob. Agad siyang naglakbay patungong Masinlok. Humarap sa Datu ang matikas na prinsipe.

“Nakalaan sa inyo ang aking paglilikod, mahal na Datu,” magalang na badya niya.
“Nakalaan akong magbigay ng kaukulang gantimpala. Humiling ka kahit anong bagay kapag nagtagumpay ka. Lunasan mo ang suliranin ng kaharian, Prinsipe ng Pangasinan,” pahayag ng Datu.

Wala po akong hinihintay na gantimpala, aking Datu. Tayo na sa labas.

Si Alindaya na noo’y magaling na ay naganyak sa tinig ng panauhin. Sumilip siya sa siwang ng pintuan. Malakas na malakas ang pitlag ng puso ng dalaga.

Nanaog ang Datu pati ang prinsipe. Madali nilang sinapit ang paanan ng bundok.
Sa isang kisapmata, binunot ng prinsipe ang bundok. Parang pagbunot lamang ng isang maliit na punong-kahoy. At sa isang iglap din, ipinatong niya iyon sa kanyang likod na walang iniwan sa pagbalikat ng tinudlang baboy-ramo. Mabilis din siyang humakbang na papalayo at ihinagis ang bundok sa lugal na kinaroroonan nito ngayon.

Bumalik ang prinsipe at ang Datu sa palasyo sa gitna ng pagbubunying mga tao. Galak na galak ang kaharian. Pagdating sa palasyo, niyakap ng Datu ang prinsipe. Iniutos niya ang malaking pagdiriwang para sa karangalan ng prinsipe noon ding gabing iyon.

Gabi ng kasiyahan, nagsasayaw noon ang prinsesa pagkat nahilingan ng amang Datu. Walang alis ang tingin ng prinsipe sa magandang mananayaw. Nabatubalani siya ng magandang prinsesa. Walang humpay ang palakpak ng prinsipe matapos ang pagsasayaw nito.

Kiming umupo ang prinsesa sa tabi ng Datu. Siya’y tahimik na nakatungo.
“Ang aking anak, si Prinsesa Alindaya, mahal na prinsipe”, nakangiting pagpapakilala ng Datu. Yumukod ang prinsipe at ang prinsesa nama’y nag-ukol ng matamis na ngiti.

Walang alis ang paningin ni Prinsipe Malakas sa dalaga. Hindi matagalan ng prinsesa ang kabigha-bighaning titig ng prinsipe.

“May sasabihin ka, Prinsipe Malakas?” tanong ng hari upang basagin ang katahimikan.
“Hinihingi ko ang inyong pahintulot na makausap ko ang mahal na prinsesa, mahal na Datu”, ang hiling ng prinsipe.

“Higit pa sa riyan ang maibibigay ko”, sang-ayon ng Datu.
Hindi nagtagal at nasaksihan sa Masinlok ang marangyang kasal nina Prinsesa Alindaya at Prinsipe ng Pangasinan. Nagsaya ang kaharian sa loob ng anim na araw.

Samantala, ang guwang na nilikha ng pagkabunot sa bundok ay napuno ng tubig ito’y naging isang lawa.
Naging maganda at matulain ang lawang ito na tinawag ng mga tao na Lawa ni Alindaya sapagkat nagpapagunita ng kagandahan ng prinsesa at ng pag-ibig niyang siyang dahilan ng pagkakaron ng Bundok na Pinatubo.

Alunsina and Paubari escaped harm through the assistance of Suklang Malayon, the goddess and guardian of happy homes and sister of Alunsina, who learned of the evil plot and warned the two so they were able to seek refuge on higher ground.

After the flood waters subsided, Paubari and Alunsina returned to the plains secretly. They settled near the mouth of the Halawod river.

Several months later Alunsina became pregnant and told Paubari to prepare the siklot, things necessary for childbirth. She delivered a set of triplets and summoned the high priest Bungot-Banwa to perform the rites of the gods of Mount Madya-as (the mountain abode of the gods) to ensure the good health of the children. The high priest promptly made an altar and burned some alanghiran fronds and a pinch of kamangyan. When the ceremony was over he opened the windows of the north side of the room and a cold northernly wind came in and suddenly the three infants were transformed into strong, handsome young men.

Labaw Donggon, the eldest of the three, asked his mother to prepare his magic cape, hat, belt and kampilan (sword) for he heard of a place called Handug where a beautiful maiden named Angoy Ginbitinan lived.

The journey took several days. He walked across plains and valleys, climbed up mountains until he reached the mouth of the Halawod river.

When he finally met the maiden’s father and asked for her hand in marriage, the father asked him to fight the monster Manalintad as part of his dowry. He went off to confront the monster and with the help of his magic belt Labaw Donggon killed the monster and to prove his feat he brought to Angoy Ginbitinan’s father the monster’s tail.

After the wedding, Labaw Donggon proceeded home with his new bride. Along the way they met a group of young men who told him that they were on their way to Tarambang Burok to win the hand of Abyang Durunuun, sister of Sumpoy, the lord of the underworld and whose beauty was legendary.

Labaw Donggon and his bride continued on their journey home. The moment they arrived home Labaw Donggon told his mother to take care of his wife because he is taking another quest, this time he was going to Tarambang Burok.

Before he can get to the place he has to pass a ridge guarded by a giant named Sikay Padalogdog who has a hundred arms. The giant would not allow Labaw Donggon to go through without a fight.

However, Sikay Padalogdog was no match to Labaw Donggon’s prowess and skill in fighting so he gave up and allowed him to continue.
Labaw Donggon won the hand of Abyang Durunuun and also took her home. Before long he went on another journey, this time it is to Gadlum to ask for the hand of Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata who is the young bride of Saragnayan, the lord of darkness.

This trip required him to use his biday nga inagta (black boat) on which he sailed across the seas for many months, went across the region of the clouds, and passed the land of stones until finally he reached the shores of Tulogmatian which was the seaside fortress of Saragnayan. The moment he set foot on the ground Saragnayan asked him, “Who are you and why are you here?”

To which he answered, “I am Labaw Donggon, son of Datu Paubari and goddess Alunsina of Halawod. I came for the beautiful Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata.”

Saragnayan laughed. He told Labaw Donggon that what he wished for was impossible to grant because she was his wife. Labaw Donggon then challenged Saragnayan to a duel saying that whoever wins will have her.

The challenge was accepted and they started fighting. Labaw Donggon submerged Saragnayan under water for seven years, but when he let go of him, Saragnayan was still alive. The latter uprooted a coconut tree and started beating Labaw Donggon with it. He survived the beating but was not able to surpass the powers of Saragnayan’s pamlang (amulet) and eventually he gave up and was imprisoned by Saragnayan beneath his house.

Back home Angoy Ginbitinan and Abyang Durunuun both delivered sons. Angoy Ginbitinan’s child was named Aso Mangga and Abyang Durunuun’s son was called Abyang Baranugon.

Only a few days after they were born, Aso Mangga and Abyang Baranugon embarked to look for their father. They rode their sailboats through the region of eternal darkness, passed the region of the clouds and the land of stones, finally reaching Saragnayan’s home.

Saragnayan noticed that Abyang Baranugon’s umbilical cord have not yet been removed, he laughed and told the child to go home to his mother.

Abyang Baranugon was slighted by the remarks and immediately challenged Saragnayan to a duel. They fought and Abyang Baranugon defeated Saragnayan and won his father’s freedom.

Labaw Donggon’s defeat and subsequent imprisonment by the Lord of Darkness also angered his brothers. Humadapnon was so enraged that he swore to the gods of Madya-as that he would wreak revenge on all of Saragnayan’s kinsmen and followers.

Humadapnon prepared to go to Saragnayan’s domain. He employed the aid of Buyong Matanayon of Mount Matiula who was well-known for his skill in swordsmanship. For their journey they rode on a sailboat called biday nga rumba-rumba. They travelled through the region of the clouds, passed by the region of eternal darkness and ended up at a place called Tarambang Buriraw. In this place was a ridge called Talagas Kuting-tang where a seductive sorceress named Piganun lived.

Piganun changed herself to a beautiful maiden and captured the heart of Humadapnon. Buyong Matanayon begged with Humadapnon to leave the place with him but the latter refused. After seven months passed, Buyong Matanayon remembered that they have brought with them some ginger. One evening at dinner time Buyong Matanayon threw seven slices of ginger into the fire. When Pinganun smelled the odor of burning ginger she left the dinner table because sorcerers hated the odor of ginger. Immediately Buyong Matanayon struck Humadapnon, who became unconscious. He dragged his friend with him and they were able to escape.

They continued with their trek and everywhere they went they exacted revenge on all of Saragnayan’s people and relatives. One day they reached a place called Piniling Tubig who was ruled by Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw. There was a big gathering in the village and when they asked what was going on they were told that the datu was giving his daughter for marriage to whoever could remove the huge boulder that rolled from a mountain into the center of the village. Many men tried their luck but no one so far was able to even move the stone.

Humadapnon took off his magic cape and used it to lift the stone and threw it back into the mountain. The datu kept his word and Humadapnon married his daughter. During the wedding feast Humadapnon heared about the beauty of the goddess of greed Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan from a guest minstrel who sang at the celebration.

After the wedding Humadapnon went to seek the hand of the goddess in marriage. Along the way he encountered Buyong Makabagting, son of the mighty Datu Balahidyong of Paling Bukid who was also travelling with the same purpose in mind. Upon learning of Humadapnon’s intent, Buyong Makabagting challenged him to a duel. They fought and Buyong Makabagting was no match to Humadapnon’s strength and skill. The fight ended when Buyong Makabagting surrendered and even promised to aid Humadapnon in his quest. Humadapnon married the goddess and brought her home.

Meanwhile, right after Humadapnon left to seek Saragnayan’s followers and relatives his brother Dumalapdap left for Burutlakan-ka-adlaw where the maiden Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokon lived. For the trip he brought along Dumasig, the most powerful wrestler in Madya-as.
Several months later they came to a place called Tarambuan-ka-banwa where they encountered the two-headed monster Balanakon who guarded a narrow ridge leading to the place where the maiden lived.

With the aid of Dumasig, Dumalapdap killed Balanakon. However, upon approaching the gate of the palace where the maiden lived he was confronted by Uyutang, a bat-like monster with sharp poisonous claws. There ensued a bloody battle between the Dumalapdap and the monster. They fought for seven months and their skill and prowess seemed to be equal. But on the seventh month, Dumalapdap was able to grab on to Uyutang’s ankle and broke it. Then he took his iwang daniwan (magic dagger) and stabbed Uyutang under the armpit.

Uyutang cried out so loud that the ridge where they were fighting broke into two and there was an earthquake. Half of the ridge became the island of Buglas (Negros) and the other became the island of Panay.
Dumalapdap married Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan and then took her home. Datu Paubari was very happy when he was reunited with his three sons and he prepared a feast in their honor.

After the celebration, the three brothers left for different parts of the world. Labaw Donggon went to the north, Humadapnon went south, Dumalapdap to the west and Datu Paubari remained in the east.